Retractable cabinet mounting



Jan. 25, 1955 G. sTRocco RETRACTABLI: CABINET MOUNTING 4 She'ets-Sheet lFiled May 24, 1952 INI/ENTOR. GENE STROCCO. @2f

ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1955 G. sTRocco RETRACTABLE CABINET MOUNTING 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1 952 JNI/ENTOR GENE STROCCQ /1' TTORNE YJam-'25, 1955 RETRACTABLE CABINET MOUNTING Filed May 24, 1952 G. STROCCO4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INI/EN TOR.

GENE STROCCO.

Jan. 25, 1955 G. sTRocco RETRACTABLE CABINET MOUNTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed May 24, 1952 INI/EN TOR GENE STROCCO.

ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent() 2,700,585 RETRACTABLE CABINET MOUNTINGGene Strocco, Whitestone, N. Y. Application May 24, 1952, Serial No.289,840 26 Claims. (Cl. S12-30) This invention relates to 4retractablecabinet mountings, more particularly to special sewing machine mountingsfor use with drop cabinets.

IIn conventional sewing machine cabinets where the machine head ismovable between a storage position withlin the cabinet well and anoperative position on the cabinet table, considerable effort mustgenerally be expended both in lifting and lowering the head; and sincemost sewling machine operators are women, the physical effort requiredin such operations frequently results in considerable and at timesharmful strains. With all such conventional devices, it is extremelydiiicult, and with many operators impossible, to lift the machine headfrom its storage position while the operator is in her seated position;and in lowering the machine head into the cabinet, considerable cauti-onis required to prevent damage to the machine by an inadvertent `droppingthereof. It is pri- :marily within the contemplation of my invention toprovide a retractable mounting, particularly although not limited tosewing machine cabinets, whereby the aforesaid diculties are obviated.And in this aspect of my invention it is an important object to eifectan automatic release of a previously stored sewing machine head, withoutany lifting eiiort on the part of the operator. And it is anotherimportant object of my invention to enable the machine t-o be manuallylowered to its storage position with a minimum of effort.

'In the accomplishment of the above-mentioned objective, I employ anovel form of spring-loaded linkage, -as part of my retractablemounting, which includes a special form of iloating fulcrum providing ahigh mechanical advantage, whereby relatively small and spaceeconomicalsprings may be employed to effect the automatic lifting operation. Andin this aspect of my invention it is an object to enable the springelements of the mounting to be readily adjust-able for differenttensions, to meet the specific requirements of each installation. Andlit is a further object, in connection with this phase of my invention,to provide an optimum lifting arrangement in which there is asubstantial initial lifting effort at the instant the automatic releaseis set into operation. In connection with the cushioning mechanism of myinvention, I employ a novel combination of two springs, whereby, upon amanual lowering of the machine into the well, the springs aresuccessively loaded, the combinative loading of the springs at the endof the storing movement preventing any damaging shocks to the machinehead in the event it is inadvertently dropped.

`It is also an important object of my invention to provide a unitaryretractable mounting with such ture that it may be separately anindependent unit, and readily installed by simple fas- It is furtherwithin my contemplation to provide a retractable cabinet mounting of theclass above described which will occupy a minimum of space, so that itis adaptable for use with the relatively small cabinets that are nowwidely employed. In the accomplishment of this Iin its horizontaloperative position,

most effectively and economically employ the space of the cabinets well.To further effectuate space economy, a double spring arrangement isemployed, whereby the springs are successively set into operation,thereby obviating the use of a long spring which could not beaccommodated within the conventional small cabinet well. The.construction is such that, despite its contractibi'lity for storagepurposes, the mounting is automatically expanded upon a lifting of thedevice to a form in which it can firmly and securely support the sewingmachine head in its operative position. f

=It is still another object of my invention to enable it to be employedwith sewing machine cabinets having conventional front and side laps, ofthe type more specifically hereinafter described. My novel form ofmounting yis so constructed that, when it is automatically released fromits locked storage position, the machine head portions of the cabinet tointo the well. In this aspect of my invention it is an important objectto hold the machine head securely in its said lifted position, wherebythe said front ap can be operatively raised, so as to enable thesubsequent lowering of the machine without danger of injury to the handsof the operator.

My mounting also contains a novel form ofcam and link support capable offirmly holding the machine head even if not supported by the front flapwhich normally is intended to provide a Vsupport therefor. The device isalso provided with means the conventional wherebythe machine can belowered from its raised position above zontal operative level to thesaid raised level, upon the application of a very slight upwardpressure.

ln eiecting the automatic release of the machine from its locked storageposition, I employ an easily operated release member which extends abovethe table only when the machine is in its said storage position.

level. IIt is my objective to provide a device of relatively simpleconstruction and easy manufacture capable of performing the functionsand attaining the objectives above mentioned.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings andthe description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectionthrough a fully retracted storage position.

igu're 2 is a View like Fig. 1, but showing the mounting and machinetions, the front ap ofthe cabinet being shown in a raised position bydot-dash lines. v Figure 3 is a view substantially like Fig. 2, butshow- Iing the mounting supporting the leigl upon4the czbinet table top.

igure is a ragmentary section of Fi 1 taken alon line 4-4. g g Figure 5is a fragmentary plan view of the cabinet and mountingmechanism in thecondition shown in Fig. 3, the machine head and a fragment of its basebeing removed for clarity. Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in section,ing of my invention shown in sition illustrated in Fig. 1.

'Figure 7 is a part fragmentary plan and part sectional v iew of Fig. 6,the section being taken substantially along line 7 7, certain partsbeing 8 is a view substantially like Fig. 7, cylinder being shown partlyin section, the position of the parts being shown of the mountthecontracted storage pomachine in its operative.

when the device is inthe expanded con-- appear, the mounting dition ofthe mounting, such as are illustrated in Figures 2 and 10.

Figure 9 is a section of Fig. 5 taken along line 9-9 substantially atthe level of the side nap.

Figure 10 is a true fragmentary plan view of the mountingand extensiblesupport Iin the extended position illustrated lin Fig. 5.

'Figure l1 is a side view of Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is an venlarged fragmentary plan view of the right side of thecabinet mounting illustrated in Fig. 5, but showing a'fragment of thesewing machine and base inthe elevated position of Fig. 2.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1-2 taken along yline 13-13.

Figure 14 is a rear View of the cabinet of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of 14-14, showing the storage positionr of the mounting andits cylinder, and also :showing by Adot-dash lines two other positionsof said cylinder, the upper position being that of Fig. 3, and the otherposition being that of an lintermediate position.

jF-igure 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of a machine cabinetcontaining a'modiiied form of mounting for y'the machine head, thelatter being shown in full lines in litsjoperative position, thedot-dash lines representing thestorageposition of the machine head baseand support therefor.

VFigure 16 is a perspective port jfor the machine head illustrated inFig. 15, and

'Figure 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of Fig. 15, looking in thedirection of line 174-17, the table being removed. a

The Adrawings illustrate an application of my invention to a sewingvmachine cabinet 20 housing my novel formof ymounting for `the sewing'machine head 21 and its base'or bedplate 22. The cabinet comprises therespective front and rear walls 23 and 24, side walls 25 and 26, andtable top 27 having a marginal portion 28, a frdntjilap 29 pivotally,mounted vat hinges 30 to the front marginal portion of the table, and aside flap 31 pivotally mounted at 'hinge 32 to the underside of the rearmarginal portion of the table. The said base 22 is pivotally connectedby hinges 33 to the rear marginal portion of the table, and isproportioned to cover the openingy 3`4 ofthe table leading in to therecess or well 35 lfor receiving the said vmachine head 21 whenoperatively retracted to its storage position, as illustrated in Fig. l,In'the construction shown, the front ap 29 has a lip 36 adapted toreceive the forward portion 37 of the base '22 'and thereby serve asaseat therefor when the machine head is inits operativeposition on thetable.

The said side ap 31 is yieldably urged upwardly vby the spring 38, 'saidspring beingin engagement with the n'd'ersideof the ap 31 asillustrated'in Fig. 13, the s top 39 extending laterally inwardly from vunderlie the base -22. The arrangement is suchthat the said side flap 31will reach a position substantially level with thetable 27 when the stopv39 is'i'nengagement with view of the adjustable supthe underside `ofbase 22'at the latt'ersv operativehorizontal position. The function lofthe side flap 31 -is to engage'a'nd actuate the mounting for Vthemachine,in a

"r'n'anner tobe hereinafter set forth.

Themachine base 22 1s suppor tive positions by my novel extensiblefloating mounting 40 to the'forward end 41v of which is pivotallyconnected Yto the bracket `42attached to the underside of the base 2'2,and the "rear end '43 of the mounting being pivotally connected to thehinge bracket 44 attached to the rear vi'all"24J of the` cabinet. Aswill more clearly-hereinafter 40 includes a variable length support 4Scomprising an arrangement of pivotally interconnected' arms'which are inextendedV positions when the machine head 21 is disposed above the table27, as is indicated in Figures 2 and `13, and in contracted positionswhen the machine head is in' its storage or retracted position, asindicated in Fig. 1. The said extensible support 45is associated with aspring-loaded member 46 which cushions the operation of lowering themachine into the well, which is releasably locked when the machineheadis in its said retractedposition, and which, whenreleased,;automatically projects the machine -head upwardly into aposition above the table. -The mounting is also provided with a leverarrangement -t'oprovide a predetermined mechanical advantage during theVoperative retraction and :projectionof thef machine head, whereby ted inits various pera- 'operate the device 'are the movements of the partsand the forces required to best suited for "safe, "e'as'y "and effectivemanipulation.

It will be noted that the said extensible support 45 1s variable inlength in the directions indicated by the arrows A-A (Figures 5, 6 and10), the forward transverse bracket bar 47 being movable towards therear transverse bracket bar 48 as the support 45 is compressed (upon amovement of the machine head and its base into the well 35) from thepositions shown in Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1, the connecting linkagemaintaining bars 47 and 48 in parallel relation, so as to permit aswingable movement of base 22 about its pivot 33 the axis of which isparallel to the said bars 47 and 48. Bar 47 carries the forward mountingbracket 49 which has two perforated arms 50a and 5017 through whichextends the pin 51 upon which are pivotally mounted the toggle links 52,the latter being pivotally mounted on the pin 53 carried by the arm 54of the base bracket 42 which is attached to the underside of the frontportion of base 22.

The arrangement is such that when base 22 is operatively elevated to itsuppermost limiting position above the table (see Figures 2 and 13) thepin 51 will be disposed to the right of pin 53, that'is, between theaxis of base bracket 42 and that of the rear hinge bracket 44, and whenbase 22 is operatively lowered from its said uppermost position to itshorizontal operative level (see Figures 3 and 15), the pin 51 will be tothe left of pin 53, whereby the said axis of base bracket 42 isintermediate the axes of pin 51 and said hinge bracket 44. This is, ineffect, a toggle linkage formed by the links 52, the arms 50a and 50b ofsupport bracket 49 and the mopnting support 45, connecting the threeaxes mentioned. The arm 54 of base bracket 42 has frontand rear arcuateseats 55 and 56, respectively, front seat 55 being adapted to receivethe periphery of one of the arms of bracket 49 (arm 50b) when the base22 is in its said horizontal position, and rear seat 56 being adapted toreceive the peripheral portion of arm 50b when the base is in its saiduppermost position (Fig. 13). The spring 57 is anchored to pin 51 onbracket 49 and to the stud 57a at the rear underside portion of base 22,whereby a rearward pull is constantly being exerted on links 52.

The arrangement is hence such that when the machine head and its baseare operatively released from their storage positions (in a manner to behereinafter explained) for movement to the uppermost level illustratedin Figures 2 and 13 the rearward pull of spring 57 will hold the togglelinks 52 in their rearwardly extending positions with the peripheralportion of arm 5011 in engagement with seat 56, whereby the base 22 ismaintained in said position. But when a downward force in thedirectionof arrow B (Fig. 13) is applied to the supporting linkage 45 (in amanner to be explained)to bring the base 22 down to its horizontalposition, the links are rotated forwardly in a clockwise directionuntilthey assume the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 13, the peripheralportion of arm 50h resting against seat 55, whereby thebase -22 isiirmly and securely maintained in said horizontalposition. Indeed, evenif the front a'p 29` were not supporting the base, the latter wouldstill be 'neld'against downward movement into the well bythesupport'provided by the bracket 49 whose arm 50h is maintained insupporting engagement with seat S5 by spring-loaded mounting mechanismto be hereinafter described. y

it will be noted that the lateral terminal portion 58 of the forwardbracket'bar 47 underlies the side ap 31 (Fig. 12). It is hence apparentthat when the ap 31 is manually depressed against the action'of spring38 to the dot-dash positionshown in Fig. 13, said lateral portion 58will be engaged by the flap, whereby the support 45 will be brought toits lower dot-dash position illustrated in Fig. 13, to bring the base 22to its said horizontal position. Upon a release of side flap 31, thespring 38 will return it to its horizontal position, in the manneraforesaid.

The extensible support 45 for the spring-loaded mounting 40 contains thelinks 59 and 60 extending rearwardly in crossing relation from theirrespective pivotal connections '61 and 62 at opposite ends'of frontbracket bar 47, and the links 63l and 64 'extending forwardly' incrossing relation from their respective pivotal connections 65'au'd 66at opposite ends of rear bracket bar 48. The for-A ward end of link 63and the rear end of link 60`;arel pivotally connected at pivot 68 to thepivot block 69 mounted over the spring shaft 70 slidably extendingthrough the aperture 71 of the block; andthe forward end of link 64 andthe rear end of link 59 are pivotally connected at pivot 72 to the pivotblock 73 having the aperture 74 through w 'ch the terminal portion 75 ofshaft 70 extends.

Pivotally connected to link 60 at fulcrum point 76 and block 73 is thefront fulcrum arm 77; and pivotally connected to link 64 at fulcrumpoint 78 and block 69 is the 79. Points 76 and 78 are selected toprovide a predetermined mechanical advantage for the springloadedmechanism, the lever arms from said fulcrum points to said blocks beingconsiderably greater thanvthe arms from the fulcrum points to the endsof brackets 47 and 48. For example, the arms of links 60 and 64 fromtheir respective fulcrum points 76 yand 78 to their respective blockpivots 68 and 72 may be three times as great as the arms of said linksfrom the respective fulcrum points to the pivots 62 and 66, therebyproviding a mechanical advantage for the action of the springs of themounting 40, as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

The said shaft 70 slidably extends through the aperture 80 of the endwall 81 of air vent cylinder 82 having the air vent opening 83 therein.Mounted on the outer end of shaft 70 is the piston 84, the spring 85being mounted over the shaft between the piston 84 and the end wall 81.Another spring 86, of greater spring strength than spring 85, is mountedover the cylindrical shaft housing 87 disposed over the inner portion ofthe shaft 70, the inner terminal portion 88 of the housing being inthreaded engagement with the internally threaded portion 89 of block 73.The said housing contains diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 90for slidably accommodating the spring stop pin 91 extending through theshaft 70. The said spring 86 is in abutment with pin 91 and the nut 92mounted over and in threaded engagement with the housing 87, theoperative rotation of said nut being eiectve to adjust the tensionwithin spring 86. The outer terminal edge 93 of housing 87 is abuttablewith the adjustable bushing 94, in threaded engagement with stop 69, toadjustably determine the position of nut 92 relative to block 69,whereby the tension in spring 86 can be correspondingly controlled.

The arrangement is such that when the mounting is in its extendedcondition as illustrated in Figures 5, 8 and 10, the springs 85 and 86are under a predetermined minimum amount of stress. Upon a downwardoperative movement of the machine head 21 and its base 22 into the well35, there is a rearward component of the operating force in thedirection of arrow C (Figures 2 and 3), said force being transmittedthrough the bar 47, the links 59, 60, 63 and 64, with ithe aid of arms77 and 79, to cause a pivotal rotation of said links and arms and aseparating movement of said block pivots 68 and 72 and their respectiveblocks 69 and 73. Since housing 87 is secured at portion 88 thereof toblock 73, the movement of block 73 will cause a corresponding movementof housing 87 slidably along shaft 70, thereby causing a compression ofspring 86, the slots 90 permitting such movement past the pin 91 affixedto the shaft 70. At the same time, the opposite outward movement of theblock 69, which is in engagement with end wall 81 of the cylinder 82,causes The mechanism is maintained in this spring-loaded condition bythe action of the hook catch 95 pivotally mounted at 96 to the catchbracket 97 on the rear bar 48. This catch, engaged by spring 98 mountedon the pin 99 of bracket 97, normally urges the hook downwardly with therecessed portion 100 of the hook facing downwardly and the sloping camsurface 101 facing the cylindrical housing 87. As the blocks 69 and 73separate in the manner aforesaid, both the bar 47 and entirecylinder-shaftspring assembly move towards the rear bar 48, until theshaft 70 reaches the hook catch 95, engaging the vcam wall 101 androtating it upwardly against the action of spring 98, the catch ridingover the shaft until the recessed or hooked portion 100 embraces theshaft, whereupon,

due to the action of spring 98, the catch holds the shaft, together withthe entire mounting mechanism 40, in the fully retracted position, asshown in Figures 1 and 6. lt will be noted that the catch 95 ispivotally connected at 102 to the internally threaded titting 103attached to the rod 104 which is connected to pusn rod 105 through thepivotally supported bar 106 and lever 107, the latter being supported at108 by the bracket 109 attached to the table top 28 (see Fig. 4). Thepush rod extends upwardly through aperture 110 in the table top, and ismaintained in its uppermost position by the spring 111 anchored tobracket 109 and attached to lever 107. The elements of this mechanismare so arranged and proportioned that the push rod 105 will extend abovethe vtable top when the machine is in the storage position shown inFigure 1, and completely below the surface of ther table when themachine head is in any of its raised positions. n

vHence, when it is desired to release the mechanism from its storage orretracted position, all that need be done is to pusn the push rod 105downwardly, whereby 1 04 and 103 will be raised, to cause ak corspring85, acting on the the cylinder, also causes within the cylinder, thevent hole 83 cushioning and retarding the action. This action draws thepivot blocks 69 and 73 together, and causes a corresponding expandingmovement of tne links 59, 60, 63 and 64, whereby the entirecylinder-shaft assembly and the bar 47 are moved forwardly and upwardly,the rear hinge 44 permitting a swingable upward movement of the entiremounting as it forces the pivotally In the compressing operation,

compress spring 86, the applied force will then cause both springs tocompress, as indicated by Figure 6.

In the opening operation of this device, it is irst advisable to liftthe front iiap 29 to the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 2, and then topress the push rod 105. This raises catch 95, permitting the extensiblesupport 45 to expand forwardly in the manner above described, spring 85causing an upward pivotal movement of the mounting, to carry the machinehead to the uppermost position illustrated in action of spring 57, thetoggle links 52 are their rearwardly extending position as illustratedin the drawing. In th' positionshown in Fig. 13. Inasmuch as the saidside flap 31 overlies the lateral terminal portion 58 of the extensiblebracket 45 (see Figures 12 and 13), the said downward depressed to thedot-dash 7 'It will benotedthatgwhen the base-'22 isiinits operativehorizontal position, thefforwardfportion thereof 'is in engagement'withthe klip"36fot the front'flap 29,"the latter supporti'ngth'e baseinits'` said position. -It is-tobe further'obse'rved, however, that evenif the front ap 29 were not Ain -its horizontal "supporting position,the 'machine h'ead would still be supported -`and held against downwardmovement. Thislisnotonly due to the action ofthefs'prings 85fand86in'themounting, but alsoto the factt'hat'th'e arm 50hI of bracket'49 is nowinengagement with the'fo'rwardseat 'SS'of bracket v42, whereby a'steadys'pp'o'rt fo'r'the machine'head' is' provided. i When itisdesired/toretract the machine head into the well, a Islight upward pull uponthemachine head'or base -2`2 willtcause the togglelinks '52"toswingcounterelockwisefabout'their axis 53,'under-the action of spring 57,ithereby bringing the machine 'hea'dinto the uppermost position shown inFig. 13. After this step, the front flap y29 isswung upwardly; andthereafter theentire machine head is forced downwardly 'into the wellagainst the/action ofthe 'said lspringsSS and 86,'this actionbeinga'id'edby 'the weight of the machine. "Whenthe machine l iinal `storageposition, asp-illustrated -in Fig. '1,'th'e'latch95" engages shaft 70,in themanner'aforesaid, to vl.maintain the ldevice in said retractedposition.

-In the event it is desiredtotrcmove the entire extensible mounting401fromthe base 22, all thatneed be done-is to disengage the pin51,1(Figures V2. A'and 10) and-detach the spring 57 `from one ofits'supports, whereupon said pin can be withdrawn'from the'ar'ms 50aandS'tib of bracket 49'and from the toggle links 52, and theibase 22swung up `from ytheopening of the well 35. This will permit readyaccess't'obe had to-theunderside o'fthe machine, as ywell as to saidmounting 40 and all the 'components thereof. Y

In the modification of Figures to l-7, the forward part-ofthe-bas'e 112ofthe machine head 113-ismounte'd upon the angle-bar `support 114, thesaid bracket 42 being attached'to the underside thereof. The leg 115 ofthe angle-bar support is pivotally connected at hinge 116 to theadjustable slotted bar 117the rear end 118 of which ispivotally'connected to hinge 119 attached to the table top l120. 'Bar117contains two components, the upper slotted member 121 containing theslots122 and 123, and the low'er'member 124 carrying two headed lslidepins 125 and -126extendingupwardly through'said Aslots -122 and123,:respectively. The arrangement is such that upon lan operativeraising and`lowering'of the'rnachine 113, member 121 `will slide lalongmember '124, due to the said slottedconstr'uction, the lengthof bar V117being varied to adjust `itself to -the various positions 4'of themachine head. In this construction, a-C-clamp underside -of flange 128lof bracket 42 and the upper portion of themachine'base 112,'the setscrew v129 lextending through upper' arm 130 of the clamp to releasablyhold the base to said bracket 42. The arrangement is hence fsuch thatupon an operative detachment-of said C-clfamp 127, the mountingassembly'40 can readily be detached from the machine 113.

vInlboth'forrns of my inventionit is apparent that the novelfmountingnot only servesits intended function as abovedescribed, but italsoconstitutes va unitary device which'can be'readily'prefabricated,shipped and installed in conventional sewing machine cabinets.

Y:In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely byway of'example and in -preferred manner; but obviously many variationsand modifications may be made therein. itis to be understood, therefore,that the invention is'not limitedrto any specific'form or manner ofpracticing same, Vexcept insofar as such limitations are' specied intheappendedv claims.

v1.-In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal `table and lateral walls 'dening an internal well, 'anaperture'in the table communicating with said well, a sewing machinehead, a'base supporting said head, -said base being pivotally mounted onthe cabinet and being movable between a retracted storage position insaid well'andan upperlimiting position 'above s'aidtable, said basebeing inclined upwardly from its pivot when inesaid upper limitingposition to form an acute angle between' thebase and the table,a pivotalmounting supporting said base fbetween its said storage and upperlimiting positions, said vhase being movable to va 'substantiallyhorizontal positionat Awhich theimachine head is 127 embrace-s'the' 8 inits/operative 'ppsitiom 'releasable means, "respectively, forholdingthesaid"ba'se"an`dihead at said'storag'e, operative andupperlirnitingp'ositions, and yieldablemeans normallyurging ysaid 'base'upwardly,'fsaid Lyielda'bl'el rneans exerting a forceof a magnitudesufticientto lift thebas'e and the memberssupported thereby upwardlyto'th'esaid upper limiting position vsaid vyieldable meansbeing'disposed on v saidfmoi'inting, ksaid'releasable means having aretractable latch in engagement with saidm'ounting when in itslsai'dstorag'eposition,y a manually operable rodmovable between 4an upperposition above the level'of :said table and a lowe'rposition 'no higherthan the'level ofthe t'able, andconnecting'latch-actuating means betweensaid od and'said latch, the 'ro'd b'eing in'said upper/position onlywheny the latch is'in engagement withsaid mounting.

'2. vIna 4sewing machine drop cabinet construction, ya substantially=horizontal table and lateral walls defining an internal well, anaperture'in-thetable communicating with said well, a sewing machinehead, "a basesupporting said lhead, said base being ipivotally mountedon the cabinet and being movable between a vretracted `storagepositionfin saidwell and an upperlirniting position above said "table,said base being inclined upwardly n'from its pivot .when Vin 'said upperlimiting Lposition v-to form 'an acute angle between the baseand thetable, an extendable mounting having its rear-portion pivotally attachedto-one of said walls of the cabinet and having its Vforward-portion insupporting engagement'with the said-base, said mounting beingextendablewithin 'the plane of its longitudinal extent,`togg'le link meansconnecting said forward portion of the mounting and the said base, saidmounting vsupporting said base between its said storage and r-upperlimiting positions, 'yieldable means normally urging saidbase to itssaid upper limiting position, said base being'movable to a substantiallyhorizontal position at 4which the 'machine head is in'its operativeposition, and releasable means, respectively, for holding the said baseand head-atsaid storage,operative and upper limiting positions.

3. in a sewing lmachine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table land lateral walls defining an internal well, anaperture in the Atable communicating with said well, asewingtmachinehead, a bas'e supporting saidhead, said basevbeingpivotally mounted on the cabinet and "being mova 'le between aretracted storage position in said well and anupper'li'miting positionabove saidtable, saidbase being inclinedupwardly'from its pivot when 'inlsaid upper limiting position, an extendable mounting having its rearportion pivotally l'attached to the inner surface of one'of saidwallstat apoint substantially below said table and havingits forwardportion in-supporting engagement with said'base, Vsaidmounting'being'extendable within the ,plane of vits longitudinal extent,toggle link `means'connecting said forward portionfof the-mounting andthe said base, said mounting Vbetween itssaidstorage and Lupper limitingpositions, said extendable mounting beingV inclined upwardly lfrom itssaidwpivotal connection when operatively supporting the said base vin anupper position, said base being movable to a substantially horizontalposition at'which the machine head is in its voperative position,yieldable 'means normally urging said base upwardly from its storageposition, and releasable means, respectively, for holding the said baseand head at said storage, operative and upper limiting positions.

A4. in a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, said toggle link means comprising a mountingbracket attached to the said forward portion of the mounting, a basebracket attached to the said base, a mounting bracketpivot, a basebracket pivot, and a link mounted on said pivots and connecting saidbrackets, said link beingmovable'between two limiting positions whensaid base is operatively moved between saidupper and said operativepositions, and spring means urging said link towards one of saidpositions.

5. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, and air vent means comprising `an air ventcylinder and piston operable by said extendable mounting.

l6. In asewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording 'to claim 3, and air ventmea'ns comprisingan air vent cylinderand piston operable by one end of's'aid 'cylinder being theother'endbeing free oatsaidfexte'ndable mounting, attached tofsaid mounting, ing.

7. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, and air ventmeans comprising an air vent cylinderand piston operable by said extendable mounting, one end of saidcylinder being attached to said mounting, the other end being freeiioating, said mounting being expandable from a contracted position whenthe said base is in its said storage position to an extended positionwhen the base is in its said upper limiting position, said cylinder bengdisposed parallel to the table and movable from a lowermost positionwhen the base is in said storage position to an uppermost position whenthe base is in said uppermost limiting position.

8. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, and air vent means comprising an air vent cylinderand piston, a piston rod connecting said piston to said extendablemounting, and a cylinder spring disposed over said rod and urging it ina direction to cause an operative expansion of said extendable mounting.

9. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, and air vent means comprising an air vent cylinderand piston, a piston rod connecting said piston to said extendablecylinder spring disposed over said rod within 10. In a sewing machinedrop cabinet construction, the combination according to claim 3, and airvent means comprising an air vent cylinder and piston, a piston rodconnecting said piston to said extendable mounting, a cylinder springdisposed over said rod within the cylinder, a second spring disposedover another portion of said rod exteriorly of the cylinder, bothsprings urging the rod in a direction to cause an operative expansion ofsaid extendable mounting, and a retractable latch in engagement withsaid rod when the mounting is in the said storage position.

In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combination accordingto claim 3, said extendable link structure having a plurality ofpivotally connected crossing links supporting front and rear paralleltransverse bars, the said rear transverse bar being pivotally connectedto the said inner surface, and the said front transverse bar being insupporting engagement with said base.

12. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 3, said extendable mounting comprising a foldablelink structure having a plurality of pivotally connected crossing linkssupporting front and rear parallel transverse bars, the said reartransverse being pivotally connected to the and the said fronttransverse bar being in supporting engagement with said base, saidfoldable link structure havlg tlvo opposite pivotal connections eachcarrying a pivot l3. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, thecomblnation according to claim 3, said extendable mountblock, springmeans urging said pivot blocks towards each other, to cause an expandingmovement of said foldable link structure, said link structure comprisingtwo pairs of of said links at a fulcrum point intermediate its ends.

14. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls defining an internal well, anaperture in the table communicating with said well, a sewing machinehead, a base supporting said head, said base being pivotally mounted onthe cabinet and being movable between a retracted storage position insaid well and an upper limiting position above said table, said basebeing inclined upwardly from its pivot when in said upper limitingposition, an extendable mounting having its rear portion pivotallyattached to the inner surface of a rear one of said lateral walls at apoint substantially below said table and having its forward portion insupporting engagement with said base, toggle link means connecting saidforward portion of the mounting and the said base, said mountingsupporting said base between its said storage and upper limitingpositions, said extendable mounting being inclined upwardly andforwardly when operatively supporting the said base in an upperposition, said base being movable to a substantially horizontal positionat which the machine head is in its operative position, yieldable meansnormally urging said base upwardly from its storage position, andreleasable means, respectively, for holding the said base and head atsaid storage, operative and upper limiting positions, said toggle linkmeans comprising a mounting bracket attached to the said forward portionof the mounting, a base bracket attached to the forward portion of saidbase, a mounting bracket pivot, a base bracket pivot, and a link mountedon said pivots and connecting said brackets, said link being movablebetween a forward limiting position when said base i's in its operativeposition and a rearward limiting position when the base is in its saidupper limiting position, and spring means urging said link towards itssaid rearward limiting position.

l5. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 14, said spring means being attached to said bracketpivot and said base.

6. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 14, said base bracket having a rear seat thereon,said mounting bracket being in engagement with said rear seat when thebase is in said upper limiting position.

17. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, the combinationaccording to claim 14, said base bracket having a front seat thereon,said mounting bracket being in engagement with said front seat when thebase is in said operative position.

18. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls defining an internal well,

net and being movable between tion in said well and an upper said table,said base being inclined upwardly from its pivot when in said upperlimiting position, a pivotally tively, storage, operative and upperlimiting positions, said mounting having a portion thereof underlyingthe side flap when the base is in said upper limiting position, wherebyupon an operative downward movement of said flap it will engage saidmounting and actuate it and the base and machine head supported therebydownwardly.

-l In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls defining an internal well,

an upper limiting position above said table, said base being inclinedupwardly from its pivot when in said upper limiting position, asupporting member underlying the forward portion of said base, anextensible bar the front of which is pivotally connected to said memberand the rear of which is pivotally attached to the table top, anextendable mounting having its rear portion pivotally attached to one ofsaid walls of the cabinet and having its forward portion in detachableengagement with said supporting member, said mounting supporting saidbase between its said storage and upper limiting positions, yieldablemeans normally urging said base to its said upper limiting position,said base being movable to a substantially horizontal position at whichthe machine head is in its operative position, and releasable means,respectively, for holding the said base and head at said storage,operative and upper limiting positions.

20. In a mounting for supporting a member with a 11 base betweenfapredetermined storage position'in acabin'et'in which position the baseis in a substatniallyvertical position 'and an operative position inwhich lthe base Vis in a substantially horizontal position, anextensible springloaded support comprising two pairs of oppo'sitelyextending crossing links, one pair extending in a predeterminedforwardly direction and the other pair in the opposite rearwardlydirection, said pairs being Joined together at two opposite pivotalpoints, whereby a foldable link structure is formed, pivot blocks ateachof said points, hinge members attached to the respective rearmostand foremost portions of said rearwardly and forwardly extending pairsof links, a-rear'fulcrum arm pivotally connected to one'of saidrearwardly extending'links at a fulcrum point intermediate its ends andto the pivotall point at which the other of said rearwardly extendinglinks is connected, a front fulcrum arm pivotally connected toone ofsaid forwardly extending links at a fulcrum point intermediate its endsand to the pivotal point at which the other of said forwardly extendinglinks is connected, apertures in both of said pivot blocks, a springshaft slidably extending throughboth of said apertures, andspring meanson said shaft urging the said blocks in opposite directions, to cause anexpanding movement of the links of said foldable link structure. l

21. ln a mounting of the class described, the combination according toclaim 20, said spring means comprising two separate springs mounted onsaid shaft, one of'said springs being of greater spring tension than theother.

22. In a mounting of the class described, the combination according toclaim 20, and an air vent cushioning member comprising an air ventcylinder and a piston therein, said spring shaft extending through saidcylinder and being connected to said piston, said spring means includinga spring mounted over said shaft and disposed within said cylinderbetween the said piston and an end of the cylinder.

23. ln a machine-supporting drop cabinet construction, a `substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls defining an internal well, anaperture in the table communicating with said Well, a machine-supportingbase pivotally mounted on the cabinet and being movable between aretracted storage position in said well and an upper limiting positionabove said table, said base being .inclined upwardly from its pivot whenin said upper limiting position to form an acute angle between the baseand the table, a mounting pivotally connected to the cabinet andsupporting and connected to said base and proportioned to limit theoperative movement of said base between the latters said storage andupper limiting positions, said base being movable to a substantiallyhorizontal operative position, releasable means, respectively, forholding the said base at said storage, operative and upper limitingpositions, and yieldable means urging said base upwardly.

V24. In a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls deining a'n internal well, anaperture in the table communicating with said well, a sewing machinehead, a base supporting said head, said base being pivotally mounted onthe cabinet and being movable between a retracted storage position insaid well and an upper limiting position above said table, said basebeing inclined upwardly from its pivot when in said upper limitingposition to form an acute angle between the base and the table, anextendable mounting pivotally connected to the cabinet and supportingand connected to said base, said mounting being extendable from anoperative contracted position to an operative extended position, themounting when in its said'c'ontr'a'cted position supporting s'aidba'sein its said storage position,ysaid mounting being proportionedwhe'n inits :said extended position operativelyto'support said base in itssaidupper limiting position, saidb'ase being movable to asubstantallyhorizontal position 'at which the machine head is in its opertaiveposition, releasable means, respectively, for holding the said base Iandhead at said storage, operative and upper limiting positions, andyieldable meansurging said base upwardly.

25. ln a sewing machine drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral Walls defining an internal well, anaperture in the table communicating with said well, a sewing machinehead, a base supporting said head, vsaid base being pivotally mounted onthe cabinet andibeing movable between a'retracted storageposition inVsaid well and an upper position in which said sewing machine head isabove said well, an extendable mounting pivotally connected to thecabinet and supporting and connected to said base, said mounting beingextendable from an operative contracted position to `an operativeextended position, the mounting when in its said contracted positionsupporting said base in its said storage position, said mounting beingproportioned when in its said extended position operatively to supportsaid base iny its said upper position, yieldable means urging saidextendable mounting to its said extended position, whereby said baseandhead are urged by said mounting to their said upper position, said basebeing movable to a substantially horizontal operative position, andreleasable means, respectively, for holding the said base at saidstorage, operative and'upper limiting positions.

26. In a machine-supporting drop cabinet construction, a substantiallyhorizontal table and lateral walls denning an internal well, an aperturein the table communicating with said well, a machine-supporting basepivotally mounted on the cabinet for movement through said aperturebetween a retracted storage positionin said well and anupper limitingposition above said table in which the base is inclined upwardly to forman acute angle with'the table; longitudinally extendable linkage meanssupporting said base, said linkage means being supported by saidcabinet, said linkage means being extendable within the plane of'itslongitudinalextent and having an extended position supporting said basein its said upper-limiting position and a contracted position when saidbase is in its storage position; resilient means operatively associatedwith said linkage means and urging the latter to its extended position;said base being movable from its upper limiting position to an operativehorizontal-position and to its said storage position against the actionof said resilient means; and releasable latch means, respectively, forholding said base in said upper, horizontal and retracted storagepositions.

References Cited in the le Vof this patent UNITED `STATES PATENTS

